Space exploration and travel are two topics that are always exciting, and that have sparked a lot of enthusiasm about the future. Debbie Senesky, a previous guest on the show, researches ways to develop tiny, tough electronics that could help augment our abilities to further explore extreme environments, such as those found in space. Today we’re re-running a conversation Russ had with Debbie in 2017 on this topic. Enjoy.
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Russ Altman introduces the episode, guest, Dr. Debbie Senesky and electronics for extreme environments.
(00:04:29) Challenges in Space Exploration
Dr. Senesky's insights into the challenges of space exploration, focusing on the need for tiny and tough electronics and introduces wide bandgap semiconductor materials.
(00:07:38) Operation Temperatures of New Materials
Discussion on the operational temperatures of wide band gap semiconductor materials, & contextualization of these temperatures in everyday life.
(00:10:13) Venus and it’s harsh environment
Introduction to Venus, and its unique characteristics as well as the scientific goals and reasons for studying it.
(00:13:10) History of Venus Missions and Exploration
Overview of past Venus missions, including the Venera program by Russia, and the challenges faced in engineering for these missions
(00:16:21) Engineering Challenges in Other Space Exploration
The conversation moves on to some of the other challenges posed by exploring other planets and areas of space including cold temps and power sources.
(00:18:03) Collaboration with Space Agencies
Discussion on collaborations between research labs and space agencies like NASA; Dr. Senesky explains her current area of research and opportunities for testing.
(00:21:15) The Space Industry Renaissance and Access to Space
Russ & Debbie discuss the current boom of the space industry, the technology and developments, as well as the challenges raised by it.
(00:23:34) Nanoscale Materials and Engineering Challenges
Introduction to nanoscale materials, their production, and their applications in space technologies.
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